The House of Gucci (writing prompts!)
And some inspiration from Horton Foote.
Your Daily Creative Inspiration
Take these words by playwright Horton Foote to heart.
“The main thing about writing is perseverance. It’s a job that you can easily be distracted from; there are a lot of temptations. When I was coming along, we didn’t have the temptation of television. You could spend the rest of your life listening to that if you weren’t careful. Writing is a lonely journey, and writers have to find their own way. That’s the most important thing: to realize that your own voice is the most important gift you have.”
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the movie The House of Gucci—and in that spirit I want you to please try to find at least ONE moment of EXTREME GAUDINESS and CAMP in your writing this week.
EXERCISE #1: “It was a name that sounded so sweet, so seductive.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of someone whose name looms large in your life, but who you’ve never actually met – it could be a famous person, or someone you only know of through someone else who you’re close to – write about how this person has impacted your life.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist talks about someone they’re inspired by who they’ve never met.
EXERCISE #2: “But then there was a curse too.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a “curse” (big or small) that has affected you or your family. Not necessarily a literal curse, of course, but any hardship that feels curse-like.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where one of your characters has an emotional meltdown because they feel they’ve been cursed in some way. Include: heightened emotions, a story from their childhood, and something breaking.
EXERCISE #3: “It’s time to take out the trash. Aldo and Paolo are poison.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about something or someone you’d like to flush out of your life.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your main character discovers and/or plans to get rid of a toxic influence.
EXERCISE #4: “Mother never worked a day in her life, so she made it her full-time job to find me the wrong man.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think about your mother (or a maternal figure in your life) and write about what you learned about love from her.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your main character talks about five things they learned from their mother about love.
EXERCISE #5: “I don’t consider myself to be a particularly ethical person, but I am fair.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a time you did something unethical that you regretted later.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where one of your characters breaks a law.
EXERCISE #6: “You should reconsider your wardrobe choices. You are Gucci. You need to dress the part.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about at least two specific memorable outfits you’ve worn. What did those clothes mean to you? How do they change you?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, do some freewriting about the clothing styles of each of your characters.
EXERCISE #7: “These are your ghosts, not mine. These are your regrets.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about a ghost, either literal or metaphorical, that you’ve felt in your life. A ghost you feel close to.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, let’s make this ghost literal. Write a scene where your protagonist has an argument about the past with a ghost.
EXERCISE #8: “Art, like beauty, has no price.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Make a quick list of ten things you find beautiful, then circle one and write about your relationship with it.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your main character confesses a deep desire. Whatever this desire is, they should talk about how and why it’s beautiful.
Your Daily Recommendation
Are you a Swiftie?? Do you have any Swifties in your life? Check out my books of Taylor Swift-inspired writing prompts.
Pop Prompts For Swifties and More Eras: Pop Prompts For Swifties Vol 2 use the music of Taylor Swift to help you get into the right emotional headspace to write, then the prompts will get you accessing all your deepest emotions. They make great gifts for Swifties of any age.
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